--- a/doc/Makefile.am
+++ b/doc/Makefile.am
@@ -61,16 +61,4 @@
 $(MANDIRS):
 	mkdir $@  
 
-# this target cleans everything up in the html directory
-
-distclean:
-	-rm html/*.html 
-	-rm html/*.css
-	-rm html/images/*.*
-	-rmdir html/images
-	-rmdir html
-	if [ -e graphics ]; then \
-	    rm graphics ; \
-	fi 
-	-rm Makefile